Rep. Jordan Demands DOJ Inspector General Provide Info Over Alleged Involvement in FBI Seizure of Congressman’s Phone

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is leading a Republican House Judiciary Committee probe into Justice Department (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s alleged involvement in the FBI seizure of the cell phone of Congressman Scott Perry (R-Pa.).

In a letter dated Aug. 29, Jordan, who serves as the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, said the move “creates a serious conflict of interest for the OIG [Office of Inspector General] in reviewing the Department’s actions.”

The lawmaker went on to raise concerns over the OIG’s independence regarding the seizure, noting that its “decision to assist the FBI in this politically charged matter demands a full and complete explanation about your unusual actions.”

He further states that the OIG “used its laboratory in Northern Virginia to assist the FBI in conducting a forensic review” of Perry’s phone, which was then “imaged after the search” to create a forensic copy of the contents, including “protected” communications.

“The OIG’s assistance to the FBI in imaging Representative Perry’s phone, in addition to posing questions about why the nation’s top law enforcement agency cannot perform this task itself, raises serious concerns about why you would be willing to sacrifice the OIG’s independence to assist the FBI in advancing such a politically charged matter,” Jordan wrote.

Jordan asked that Horowitz hand over all relevant documents and communications relating to the seizure of the cell phone dating back from January 2021 to the present.

He also called on Horowitz to provide a “complete and detailed” timeline of those communications, along with a “complete and detailed explanation of the decision” by the DOJ’s Office of Inspector General to assist the FBI in its seizure of the phone, including whether or not they had considered other “less intrusive” means of pursuing their inquiry.

Finally, he asked for a thorough explanation as to whether or not employees at the OIG had suggested

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